Breech-loading small-arms.



- No. 853.073.' PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

J.' W. ESSER.

BREECH LOADING lSMALL APPLI'UATION FILED DB0. 2, 1905.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 853,073. y 7 PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. J. W. BssER.

BREECH LOADING SMALL ARM.

ArPLIoATIoN FILED DBO. z, 1905.

No. 853,073. 4 PATENTLD MAY 7, 1907.

y J. W. BssBR.

BREEGH LOADING SMALL ARM.

APPLIUATION FILED DEO.2,1905.

UNITED STATES pagani orrrcn.

BREECH`LOAD|NG SMALL-ARMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

` Application filed December 2. 1905. Serial No. 290,001.

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN I/VILLIAM EssER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 82 Fentham road, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, in the county of Varwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Small- Arms 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as, will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to breech loading small arms, and refers more particularly to the class of rifle or other small arm provided with a breech bolt connected with, and moved by a slide operated by the left hand, such bolt being made in two parts, whereof the back part, carrying the firing pin, slides in suitable guides, and the forward part telescopes into the before-mentioned back part, and has a motion of rotation communicated to it, when the back part is pushed over it, by means of screw threads formed on such parts and in engagement with one another, the locking and unlocking of such forward part of the breech bolt in the breech being thus eifected.

The chief objects of the invention are to enable the breech bolt of a small arm of the before-mentioned class to be very rapidly manipulated without removing the arm from the shoulder, so as to increase the rapidity of firing. At the same time the rods and other mechanism connecting the hand slide with the breech bolt are so arranged and located that they are not exposed to the likelihood of injury or damage in case of the arm being dropped or receiving a blow. The trigger mechanism is so constructed and arranged, that it affords absolute security against ring before the breech bolt has been properly locked in position a device being also furnished for locking the whole mechanism, when necessary, so that the arm cannot be discharged without unlocking such device. Means are further provided for stopping the supply of cartridges from a magazine, when required, whereby the arm can be used as a single shot riile or gun.

According to my invention I connect to, or form with the back portion of the breech bolt, two rods which slide in grooves in the stock and the sides of the breech bolt receiver, which rods are connected directly to a plate, preferably of the same shape as the under portion of the rifle, and capable of sliding freely backward and forward, or they may be connected to a slide sliding in a slot formed in the stock of the rifle beneath the barrel, which slide is, in turn, connected to the sliding plate.

The trigger mechanism is of a known typein which thesear helps to lock the breech bolt in position when the ring pin is released, and as long as the trigger itself is pressed,

while the sear is locked as soon as the breech bolt is released, and in which the trigger itself is pivoted directly to one end of the sear, the ejector being pivoted to the other endif found desirable-suitable constructional modifications being made in such known mechanism where desired to suit our particular small arm.

The locking device is of that type in which the firing pin is locked simultaneously with the breech bolt, and thus, in locking the breech bolt, locks the sliding plate and other parts rigidly connected thereto. And in or* der that my said invention may be better understood I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings accompanying the specification, in which:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism of the rifle Fig. 1a is a longitudinal section through the barrel and partly broken away Fig. 2 is an outside elevation of the riiie with the breech bolt\in position ready for firing; Fig. 2a is an elevation of the forward portion of the gun with the sliding plate in its normal position; Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, with the breech open Fig. 3d is a similar view to Fig. 2a with the sliding plate removed; Fig. 4 shows a view of the clip containing the cartridges Fig. 5 shows trigger mechanism; Figs. 6 and 7 show catch for lowering the cartridge clip or frame; Fig. 8 shows sectional elevation of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 shows outside elevation of breech bolt detached, Fig. 10 shows a section through line A. B., Fig. 9. Fig. 1 1 shows a section through the breech bolt receiver at line C. D. Fig. 12 shows a plan view of metal shoe for protect. ing the back of the breech. Fig. 13 shows a back end view of the breech receiver.

The same letters and numerals of reference are employed to denote the same parts in all the views z- (L shows the breech bolt; b shows firing pin; c shows guides in which the bolt a slides. On each side of the breech bolt is iiXed or formed a pin d, on each of which pins a rod e is 'fixed These rods slide in grooves y in the sides of the breech receiver (shown clearly at Fig. 1 1) IOO IOS

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and to the opposite end of each of these rods is connected a sliding piece f, which slides freely backward and forward in the slot g. To the slidingr piece f is connected a plate 7L, of the same shape as the under portion of the rifle, -which plate h is free to move backward and forward. rIhe under portion of the breech bolt a is provided with a slot k, shown more clearly at Fig. 9.

m is a shoulder on the under portion oi the breech bolt.

n is the sear rest.

is the sear pivoted at 4 to the under part of the breech bolt receiver, and also at p to the trigger g.

r is the ejector working on apin fixed in the sear at s. The tail portion of the ejector 'r is made springy and bears against the trigger at t. When the ejector is not connected with the sear 0, a guide pin is inserted in the -f hole 6 in the trigger.

u is the magazine provided with the usual spring mechanism for raising the cartridges. The cartridges are held in a clip or frame v, which is of the ordinary construction but provided with a slot t0, for the purpose hereinafter described.

:c is a'catch pivoted to the side of the magazine (see Fig. 8). This catch is provided for lowering the clip o as hereinafter described, and is shown drawn to a larger yscale at Figs. 6, 7 and 8. It may be kept in its normal position by means of a suitable spring.

1 is the catch to retain the clip i) in position.

To theside of the breech bolt a, is pivoted a safety catch 2, which takes into slots 3 (Fig. 10) in the iring pin.

The action is as follows Supposing the rifle to be in the position shown at Fig. 3, the clip QJ containing the cartridges would be placed in themagazine u in the ordinary way. The plate h would then: be gripped by the hand and pushed forward into the position shown at Fig. 2, and the mechanism would then assume the position at Fig. 1, with a cartridge in the breech ready for iiring. Unless the breech bolt is pushed completely home so that the point of the sear 0 rests behind the shoulder m, the rifle cannot be fired either accidentally or otherwise, as the back of the scar o cannot be brought down far enough to allow the sear resta to pass. The nose of the sear o, resting against the shoulder m, serves as additional security against the breech bolt being forced or pulled back, so long as the trigger is held. On pulling the trigger, the back of the sear is drawn down from the sear rest n, thus releasing the firing pin. Upon drawing the plate h back again, which, by means of the rods e, also pulls back the breech bolt, the cartridge case is extracted (by any suitable extractor) from the breech and brought back with the breech bolt and ejected when it comes in contact with the nose oi' the ejector 1*. It will be seen that the spring on the ejector r also serves to keep the trigger q and sear o in position. it is required to lock the breech bolt and all the mechanism so that the rifle cannot be i'lred accidentally or otherwise, it is simply necessary to press up the safety catch 2 by whichaction such catch will enter a slot 5 (shown at Fig. 13) in the bottom of the receiver, and also one of the slots 3 in the back part ol the firing pin. When it is required to put the magazine out of action and use the weapon as a single shot riie or gun, it is necessary to press the catch @c up, and this will cause the inner end 7 of such catch to enter the slot w in the clip c (see Fig. 8), and such `catch will press on the bottom of the slot w and force the clip v down so-that the top cartridge will be clear of the breech bolt, and at the same time the catch will lock the clip o in the downward position. By pressing the catch down the clip will return to its normal position in the magazine. In the event oi' the cartridge missing iire, the iiring pin may be again put in the iiring position by drawing it back by means of the tail 8 without opening the breech.

By constructing riiies andother small arm's as above described, the parts actuating the back portion of the breech bolt are entirely protected, and there is no possibility of injury or damage to them in case of the arm being accidentally dropped or receiving a blow.

Althoughv I have described this invention as applied to a military rifle, it is equally applicable to breech loading sporting and other guns and rifles, the magazine and clip being modified to suit the cartridges. It would thus not be necessary to use a double barrelled gun as two or more cartridges can be red in rapid succession.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with the breech mechanism, a firing pin, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected to said trigger, and a cartridge ejector pivotally connected to said sear and provided with a spring tail portion adapted to bear against said trigger for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with the breech mechanism of a iring pin, a trigger, a sear pivoted at one end to said trigger and operating to lock said breech mechanism when said trigger isv unlocked and to lock said trigger when said breech mechanism is unlocked, and a cartridge ejector pivotally connected to the other end of said sear and provided with a spring tail portion adapted to bear against said trigger for the purpose speciiied.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a breech mechanism,

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of a iiring pin adapted to be reset upon the actuation of said mechanism, means for resetting said iring pin independent of said breech mechanism, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected to said trigger, and a cartridge ejector pivotally connected to said sear and provided 'with a spring tail portion adapted to bear against said trigger, substantiallyT as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a breech mechanism, of a firing pin adapted to be reset upon the actuation of said mechanism, means for resetting said iring pin independent of said breech mechanism, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected at one end to said trigger and operating to lock said breech mechanism when said trigger is unlocked, and to lock said trigger when said breech mechanism is unlocked, and a cartridge ejector pivotally connected to the other end of said sear and provided with a spring tail portion adapted to bear against said trigger, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a two-part telescoping breech bolt normally locked within the gun, means for actuating said breech bolt, means for automatically releasing said breech bolt upon the actuation of the same, a firing pin operating within said breech bolt, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected to said trigger, and a cartridge ejector pivotally connected to said sear and provided with a spring tail portion adapted to bear against said trigger, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with the breech mechanism, a ring pin, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected to said trigger, and a cartridge ejector pivotally connected to said sear and provided with a spring tail portion extending below said sear and bearing against said trigger, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a breech mechanism, of a firing pin adapted to be reset upon the actuation of said mechanism, means for resetting said iring pin independent of said breech mechanism, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected to said. trigger, and a cartridge ejector provided with a spring tail portion extending belowsaid sear and bearing against said trigger, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a two-part hollow telescopingf'breech bolt normally locked within the gun, means for actuating said breech bolt, means for automatically releasing said breech bolt upon the actuation of the same, a firing pin operating within said breech bolt, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected to said trigger, and a cartridge ejector pivotally con nected to said sear and provided with a spring tail portion extending below said sear and bearing against said trigger, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described,

.the combination with a breech mechanism,

of a magazine adapted to automatically feed cartridges to said breech, means for lockingI said magazine from action, a cartridge ejector arranged adjacent said breech mechanism and said magazine, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected at one end thereof to said sea'r, said ejector being pivotally connected to the other end of said sear and provided with a spring tail portion bearing against said trigger, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a two-part hollow, telescoping breech bolt and means vfor operating the same, of a magazine adapted to automatically feed cartridges to said breech upon the actuation of the same, means for locking said magazine from action, a cartridge ejector arranged adjacent said breech mechanism and said magazine, a trigger, a sear pivotally connected at one end thereof to said trigger, said ejector being pivotally connected to the other end of said sear and provided with a spring tail portion extending below said sear and bearing against said trigger, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN I/VILLIAM ESSER.

Witnesses:

A. BRowNE, A. E. VIDAL. 

